Workplace Health and Safety
The health and safety of employees and others on CareSphere property are of critical concern to CareSphere. CareSphere intends to comply with all health and safety laws applicable to our business. To this end, we must rely upon employees to ensure that work areas are kept safe and free of hazardous conditions. Employees are required to be conscientious about workplace safety, including proper operating methods, and recognize dangerous conditions or hazards. Any unsafe conditions or potential hazards should be reported to management immediately, even if the problem appears to be corrected. Any suspicion of a concealed danger present on CareSphere's premises, or in a product, facility, piece of equipment, process or business practice for which CareSphere is responsible should be brought to the attention of management immediately.
Periodically, CareSphere may issue rules and guidelines governing workplace safety and health. CareSphere may also issue rules and guidelines regarding the handling and disposal of hazardous substances and waste. All employees should familiarize themselves with these rules and guidelines, as strict compliance will be expected.
Reporting Incidents and Hazards
Any workplace injury, accident, or suspicion of concealed danger on our premises requires immediate reporting to your supervisor, regardless of severity. Employees should report unsafe working conditions to the HR Specialist without fear of disciplinary actions.
Safety Guidelines for Client Homes
Employees are not obligated to work in situations jeopardizing their health or safety. Immediate reporting of any unsafe conditions to the HR Specialist is necessary. No employee will face consequences for reporting an unsafe work situation.
When going to into a home for the first time, take a few minutes to think about the kind of home it is, and what problems you are likely to run into while there. You must expect the unexpected and be prepared for it.
Some, but not all, precautions and factors you should consider include:
- Side rails on the bed should be up.
- Your client should be safely positioned at all times I bed or chair.
- When getting your client up, watch for signs of dizziness and wait until they pass before letting them stand.
- Wheelchair brakes should be locked when standing still.
- Smoking in bed should be discouraged or, if necessary, must be supervised.
- The room should be kept clear of extra equipment especially at night.
- Make sure shoes are kept well tied and worn for household activities.
- Make sure hazardous tools are kept locked.
- Prepare an escape plan in case of fire, with alternate routes to safety and make sure everyone in the home knows what to do.
- Above all use common sense when approaching all job and tasks
Universal Precautions
Hand Washing:
You must wash your hands:
- Upon entering the client's home
- When hands are soild
- Before Contact with the face and mouth of a client
- After personal use of the bathroom
- After changing or assisting with client's personal needs/bathroom
- Before and after preparing meals
- After housekeeping duties are performed.
Gloves and PPE:
CareSphere provides its employees with disposable gloves to use while tending to patients personal care. Gloves can be picked up from our Bethlehem office during regular office hours.
If you are not fully Vaccinated against Covid 19, you are required to wear a facemask at all times while working with a client. Face Masks are available in our Bethlehem free of charge.
Needlesticks:
If a client uses injectable medications, shake out any bed linens, laundry carefully to avoid accidental needle stick injuries from careless handling by client/family/nurse. Injectable medications should be disposed of in a puncture proof container. Notify the Case Coordinator if you notice syringes being disposed of improperly. If you get stuck by a needle, notify your HR Specialist immediately latest by the end of the shift, to ensure proper medical intervention is provided to you.
On-the-Job Injuries
If you are injured on the job, you are required to call your HR Specialist immediately to report it. Your HR Specialist will then ask you to complete an injury report and submit it within 12 hrs. These requirements apply no matter how slight or minor the injury might seem. If you have questions about whether the injury is reportable, still call your HR Specialist and ask – do not make these decisions on your own.
Your failure to follow this procedure may result in the appropriate workers’ compensation report not being filed in accordance with the law, which may consequently jeopardize your right to benefits.